The riots in Urumqi, capital of China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, were instigated by outside forces, an official from the International Organization of the Federation of Asia and Africa Writers has said.

China has achieved much success in its development, but some political forces abroad collaborated with some elements at home to instigate unrests in some areas to sabotage China's progress, Mohamed Magdy Morgan, chairman of the organization, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Morgan said that the riots in Urumqi were very strange because he had visited China for many times and witnessed harmony and tolerance among local people.

According to him, some forces representing foreign interests are behind the recent unrests in Xinjiang as China is a big country with a great potential.

"The Chinese government, like any other governments in the world, must punish the criminals supported by overseas forces according to the law," Morgan said.

He stressed that those groups have threatened stability and security in China and the government has to take tough measures against them.

He suggested China hold culture seminars to raise the awareness of the youth and to open communication channels to discuss social, economic and political problems.

A Chinese citizen is Chinese no matter whether he is Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist or whoever, Morgan said.

The Chinese government has given favorable treatment to ethnic minorities in the country, but some Western media have made false reports about the actual conditions of the Chinese minorities, he added.

Historically, Xinjiang was known for its key status on the world- renowned Silk Road, which once connected the East and the West through trade and cultural exchanges.

The trade and culture on the Silk Road flourished in the Han and Tang dynasties more than 1,000 years ago when stability reigned. However, whenever turbulence gripped Xinjiang, businesses declined and cultural exchanges stalled, affecting the Central Asian region.

Xinjiang's trade volume with its neighboring nations exceeded US$14 billion in 2008, and the regional capital of Urumqi has become the most prosperous city in Central Asia.

All of these achievements are based on long-lasting social stability, Morgan said.

Decades of stability in Xinjiang have not only contributed to the peace and well-being of all ethnic groups there, but also boosted the development of Central and South Asia as well as the whole world, he added.

The unrest in Urumqi has led to the deaths of at least 192 people. More than 1,680 were injured.

China has the ability to correct the false perception about what is going on in Xinjiang, Morgan said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2009)